The USAF response was heart wrenching and appropriate. The jerk who complained has the right of free speech to do so thanks to the sacrafices of others that fly the F-16.
Aim high!
Posted on 07/12/2005 9:06:16 AM PDT by righttackle44
LOVED THIS RESPONSE FROM THE AIR FORCE.
Read it as many times as you need to understand.
A FIGHTER PILOT RESPONSE
This just happened here in Phoenix. Understand the first letter is a complaint to Luke AFB and the second is the response from the senior officer.
Complaint:
Quote:
A wake-up call from Luke's jets
Jun. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show?
Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!
Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns' early-bird special?
Any response would be appreciated."
The reply is classic, and a testament to the professionalism and heroism of the folks in the armed services. The response:
Quote:
Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday):
On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques.
Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.
Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the president of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.
A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?"
The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke Air Force Base
The initial letter was written by an ungrateful person. Luke Air Force Base, located in Glendale, AZ, west of Phoenix, is the largest F-16 facility in the U.S., and has always been a source of pride, except apparently to this lunk head.
The whole issue came to light after publication of the initial letter in our local socialist publication, The Arizona Republic, once a respectable newspaper. The letter was picked up for discussion on local talk radio KFYI by Barry Young, one of our local talk show hosts.
The latest about the lunkhead is that, after the publication of his letter, one could only get his answering machine. As of today, July 12, his number is disconnected. (I'll bet it is!)
Excellent words Lt Col.
Having lived on Air Force bases for the first 14 years of my life, and practically next door to one for the next 31 years, I must admit that my favorite sound in the world is the roar of those jets overhead.
There is nothing quite like hearing those big B-52s making a racket on the flightline. Sometimes I would open my window at night so I could hear them better. Some people don't care for the noise. But I think it's beautiful.
Air Force jets: the sound of FREEDOM.
The USAF response was heart wrenching and appropriate. The jerk who complained has the right of free speech to do so thanks to the sacrafices of others that fly the F-16.
Aim high!
1. Never write an angry letter unless and until you know all of the facts.
2. Be very careful about opening your mouth and removing all doubt,
AN APOLOGY!!!
Tom MacRae wrote:
An apology from the heart to the airmen of Luke
Jul. 9, 2005 12:00 AM
Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" Letters, June 28 ):
I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).
I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.
I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.
This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.
I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.
I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.
Please accept my heartfelt apologies. - Tom MacRae, Peoria
Excellent response for the Lt. Col.! :)
Being a valley resident and a home inspector I spent part of my day out by Luke. I always love to stop and watch the F-16's doing their work.
I even had the plesure of being at Luke for a week when I was in the service.
This lunkhead that is complaining about the fly over is nothing but one of our local idiots that does not appricate that fact that those jets are part of what keeps us safe and free.
"I must admit that my favorite sound in the world is the roar of those jets overhead."
Oh 9/11, I was driving home after the company closed down (for about the next week or so). I admit I was a little choked and had tears in my eyes. The only planes over head were our F-16's. I was a sound for which I thanked God.
That year, if you recall, our Diamondbacks played the Yankees in the World Series. We had a flyover by a Stealth bomber. Our house is, on it's flight line that evening, 17 miles from the stadium. We heard and saw it pass by our house and, only a few seconds later, we watched in fly over Bank One Ballpark. It was good to hear that sound--as you said, the sound of freedom.
"I must admit that my favorite sound in the world is the roar of those jets overhead."
Oh 9/11, I was driving home after the company closed down (for about the next week or so). I admit I was a little choked and had tears in my eyes. The only planes over head were our F-16's. I was a sound for which I thanked God.
That year, if you recall, our Diamondbacks played the Yankees in the World Series. We had a flyover by a Stealth bomber. Our house is, on it's flight line that evening, 17 miles from the stadium. We heard and saw it pass by our house and, only a few seconds later, we watched in fly over Bank One Ballpark. It was good to hear that sound--as you said, the sound of freedom.
They sure can interrupt a meeting or a phone conversation, though. (What's with all the planes? You'd think there's a runway around here or something.) :-)
Yes. And then the guy apologized:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp
bump
What kind of stand up citizen will admit he is woken up unnaturally after 9am. This isn't a college freshman we are talking about here. As far as I'm concerned, F-16 are about the only tangable thing I can see for all the taxes that are taken out of my paycheck.
I've spent most of my life near Selfridge ANG base in Michigan. I still stop and watch with awe the F-16, KC135 and C130 pilots fly over the house.
For some reason a Chinook copter was flying by Sunday. Never seen one of them there before except for an air show.
BTW, re: the writers apology, Someone should send that to Durbin to show how a real man apologizes. That was heartfelt and contrite.
Besides those working night shift, who else thinks 9:12 am is a "wake-up" call.
"AN APOLOGY!!!"
Thanks for posting this and letting us see it.
Unfortunately, the damage has already been done
to MacRae, and he is apparently still paying
a very high price for what he did.
And not only that, according to the letter in post #6, he's moved to Illinois! ;-)
(I know, I know, there IS a Peoria, Arizona, it's just a joke.)
Well, I'll admit to it. Then again, I was working a midnight shift tearing down and rebuilding the engines that go into the F-15 and the F-16 at Nellis Air Force Base. It took a little time, but I got used to them.
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